To The Ends of Eternity
Chapter 1: Shattered Hope: Rebirth of Lust and Sloth
June 7, 2006
By CCD

A/N: I've finally seen the end of the series and the movie. (I finished it in Japanese so I'm not familiar with the dubbed version for those who've seen the episodes in English.) How sad, my life has lost it's purpose (Yeah right!). Anyway, after I saw the series end, I kind of have been wondering what would have happened if Dante had won and Mustang had lost to Pride and so being the twisted person that I am decided to do a story on what I think would have happened. (Just for reference, every time I see her I want to call her Lady Dante for some reason so I'm making the Homunculi call her that. Oh and Envy is a boy cause he was a boy when he was human.) I'm sorry if this upsets some of you but I think that if I don't own the show, that I might as well add a little flavor to it. And don't worry, Ed and Mustang will get even in the end.

Review and let me know if I should keep going!

A flash of bright light filled the room followed by a scream. Three pairs of eyes and watched as their master once again switched bodies and destroy the rotting body she had just left. The philosopher's stone was once again within her grasp and this time nothing was going to stop her from achieving her goals.

"There, that is much better," Dante said as she brushed her new pink bangs out of the way and straitened her white dress.

Dante cradled the baby in her arms and began to walk towards the dead body of Edward Elric. She smiled slightly as she began to calculate what to do with the body in her head. She handed the baby to Envy who held it begrudgingly, before she bent down to cup the horror struck face.

"You did so much to stop the death of your brother and to destroy the stone. You see there is no such thing as equivalent exchange, however I may have a use for you yet."

A noise made her look up. From her vantage point she could see Pride standing in front of her with General Roy Mustang in his arms. It was obvious from all the blood that the General was dead.

"Lady Dante," he said as he bowed his head.

"Why have you brought him down here?"

"I knew you would want to see him dead and I thought that you might have a use for him."

"Yes, he can serve the same purpose as Edward. After all, you are three members short and it would be good to have all seven of you together again. I just have to find another fool that will defy me and we can have that. Place him next to Edward."

Pride did as he was told and stepped back. Gluttony and Envy joined him while Wrath watched from his spot on the floor. Dante smiled as she clapped her hands together to start the transmutation process.

"Lust, Sloth, Come forth!"

Three months later…

Two beings walked down the hall in unison. They were going to go in and see the Fuher. It seemed as if their master had a new mission for them. One of them was tall with shaggy black hair and midnight blue eyes. He wore a standard military uniform with white gloves that had an alchemic symbol on each one of them.

His companion was shorter with long blond hair, that had been braided, and amber eyes. He wore a black outfit complete with a red coat. He also wore white gloves. The two of them walked into the outer office where Envy sat in the form of Juliet Douglas. The two officers saluted, as was custom to a higher-ranking officer.

"Go on in, General Mustang, Colonel Elric. The Fuher is expecting you," the shape-shifting Homunculus said with a knowing smirk.

They walked passed her and into the Fuher's office. He sat behind his desk and looked up upon their entry.

"Ah, Sloth, Lust. I've been expecting you."

"We would have been here earlier, but there was a scuffle in the office," Sloth said as he took off his red coat and plopped in the nearest chair.

"That stupid Lieutenant shot at me again. I think she might be catching on Pride. We may have to do away with that whole office if this keeps up," Lust said in aggravation as he also took off his jacket and placed it on a table before leaning against the wall.

"Be patient Lust. Lady Dante wants them to be used as sacrifices for the next Philosopher's Stone. She wants the two of you to start setting bait for alchemist to seek after the stone. Envy will accompany you," Pride said.

"I'm surprised she's not sending Gluttony or Wrath with us," Sloth said.

"I thinks she wishes to keep them by her side until they prove loyal again. Gluttony still holds his attachments to the old Lust and Wrath almost destroyed her plans. He should be grateful that she gave him automail limbs so that he can still do some of the work," Pride said.

"And that I feel that two of my three most perfect Homunculi go with my more experienced one."

The three Homunculi dropped to their knees. They had not even seen their creator come into the room. She smiled as she stepped out of the shadows.

"You are truly my works of art. All three of you age as humans and I was even able to get two of you to perform alchemy on my behalf. One with a circle…" she said looking at Lust before turning to Sloth.

She placed her hand under Sloth's chin and tilted his head so that he would look at her. His amber eyes showed her that he was afraid and at the same time awed. She smiled before continuing.

"…And one who can clap his hands as I do and perform without a circle. I have to say that you are my best work so far, Sloth."

"I am honored, Lady Dante."

"I'm glad. Now get Envy and go. Start in Aquroya, I hear that the city is sinking mercilessly and it would be the perfect city to try and save don't you think?"

The two Homunculi nodded, rose from their places on the floor, and left to get Envy. Dante took this time to turn to Pride.

"Pride, maybe you should start thinking about setting up another war. I believe Drachma is on the verge again. Try stirring up something so that more sacrifices are made for our cause."

"Yes Lady Dante."

"General Mustang where are the two of you going," came the voice of Lt. Hawkeye as the two of them were about to leave.

"The Fuher ordered the two of us to go to Aquroya. We don't have much of a choice in the matter First Lieutenant. I'm leaving you in charge."

"But sir…" she started to say before the Fuher's secretary stuck her head in the door.

"General, Colonel we need to leave."

"Yes ma'am," they said quickly and exited.

Hawkeye sighed. Something was going on with the General and Edward.

"Lt. Hawkeye what's wrong?" Lt Havoc asked.

"Things have been off since he came back from going after the Fuher. The mansion was engulfed in flames and yet both of them survive. The General and Edward disappeared for two weeks and then both ended up in the same hospital only slightly injured. Then the Fuher promoted Ed to Colonel, Mustang to Major General and has been sending them on missions with his secretary. Something's just not right."

"Yeah, I noticed that too. Both of them have changed drastically," Havoc said.

"Don't forget the fact that the General has been doing his paperwork lately," Fury said.

"And he's always going to see the Fuher and talking to Ed privately. He never left us out of the loop before," Breda said.

"Even Ed is acting weird. Even with Alphonse's disappearance, he's made no effort to search for him or worry about him. It's almost as if Al never existed in his life and isn't missed," Falman said.

The whole office was silent. What was going on?

"I swear that woman is getting more suspicious every day. We might as well kill that whole office," Sloth said as he stretched.

"It makes me wonder why Lady Dante wants us to leave them alive. If they're such a nuisance why not just get them out of the way and not save them for sacrifices," Lust said.

"They trust you as General Mustang. They'll be of some use in the end," Envy said as he drove them to the train station.

"I don't think we'll ever understand what Lady Dante does," Sloth said.

"Ah, you mean her display of affection for you. I agree you're short and have a temper," Envy said.

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SO SHORT THAT THEY CAN ONLY BE SEEN WITH A MAGNIFYING GLASS!"

"Settle down, Sloth. You know he always does this to rile you up. Besides, you're proving to him that you have a temper," Lust said as he looked over to the younger homunculus who was clutching his head and breathing heavier than before.

"Sloth, what's wrong with you?" Envy asked as he looked in the rearview mirror.

"I'm seeing faces I've never seen before and a suit of armor. Why?"

"Memories of your life as a human. They will pass," Lust said.

"Don't do things to trigger them and they won't come," Envy sneered.

"I try, but nothing ever seems to be enough," Sloth said.

"Don't try to think like a human, Sloth. We're above them and they will all be squashed like the ants they are soon," Envy said.

"Envy's right. We have a job to do and we can't be distracted. Put it out of your mind, Sloth. Now is not the time to think on such things," Lust said.

The trio was silent for the rest of the ride to the station. When they arrived, they quickly got their tickets and boarded the train. They knew what they had to do and they knew that nothing was to distract them from doing their jobs. They also knew that if they failed, Lady Dante wouldn't hesitate in sealing them. That was their life.

They seemed to only have one purpose and one desire. Their purpose was to create a Philosopher's Stone. Their deepest desire was to once again join the human race that they had left behind. Such was their fate to live with such things and accept them. For at this time they knew that they could never go back only forward and hope that their desire was fulfilled or that they were given peace by being sealed away by an alchemist. Their lives were simple, yet complex and they accepted that. As Homunculus, they had no choice.